REGIONAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILES IN

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This publication is funded by the Ministry of Regional Development, has been drafted by the Department for Regional Socio-Economic Planning and Analysis with support from Regional Development Agencies, RDA Centre, RDA East, RDA North, RDA West, RDA South, and UNDP consultant Mr. Jeton Mehmeti

This publication is a summary of the data collected by the MRD from various sources published by the central and local level, as well as other mechanisms that operate in Kosovo. The data presents the situation at the time of publication.

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ...... 5 SOCIO-ECONOMIC REGION CENTRE ...... 7 SURFACE AND POPULATION ...... 8 DEMOGRAPHY ...... 10 HUMAN RESOURCES AND LABOUR MARKET ...... 12 EDUCATION ...... 14 NATURAL RESOURCES ...... 16 TOURISM SECTOR ...... 18 BUSINESSES PROFILES, NUMBER OF REGISTERED BUSINESSES ...... 19 ECONOMY AND BUSINESS CONDITIONS ...... 20 INFRASTRUCTURE ...... 21 RAJONI SOCIO-EKONOMIK LINDJE ...... 23 SURFACE AREA AND POPULATION ...... 25 DEMOGRAPHY ...... 26 HUMAN RESOURCES AND LABOUR MARKET ...... 29 EDUCATION ...... 30 NATURAL RESOURCES ...... 33 AGRICULTURE SECTOR ...... 35 SECTOR OF TOURISM ...... 36 BUSINESS PROFILES AND NUMBER OF REGISTERED BUSINESSES ...... 37 ECONOMY AND CONDITIONS FOR BUSINESS ...... 38 INFRASTRUCTURE ...... 39 SOCIO-ECONOMIC REGION NORTH ...... 40 SURFACE AREA AND POPULATION ...... 42 DEMOGRAPHY ...... 43 HUMAN RESOURCES AND LABOR MARKET ...... 46 EDUCATION ...... 47 NATURAL RESOURCES ...... 50 AGRICULTURAL SECTOR ...... 50 BUSINESS PROFILES, NUMBER OF REGISTERED BUSINESSES ...... 53 SOCIO-ECONOMIC REGION WEST ...... 55 SURFACE AREA AND POPULATION ...... 57 DEMOGRAPHICS ...... 58 HUMAN RESOURCES AND THE LABOUR MARKET ...... 61 EDUCATION ...... 63

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NATURAL RESOURCES ...... 64 AGRICULTURE SECTOR ...... 65 TOURISM SECTOR ...... 66 BUSINESS PROFILES, NUMBER OF REGISTERED BUSINESSES ...... 69 ECONOMY AND BUSINESS CONDITIONS ...... 70 INFRASTRUCTURE ...... 71 SOCIO-ECONOMIC REGION SOUTH...... 72 SURFACE AREA AND POPULATION ...... 73 HUMAN RESOURCES AND LABOR MARKET ...... 76 EDUCATION ...... 78 NATURAL RESOURCES ...... 80 AGRICULTURE SECTOR ...... 80 TOURISM SECTOR ...... 82 BUSINESS PROFILES, NUMBER OF REGISTERED BUSINESSES ...... 84 INFRASTRUCTURE ...... 86

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INTRODUCTION

This document is the first institutional document that presents the Socio-Economic Profiles in Kosovo. The purpose of the document in question is to provide an overview of the current situation and development trends in the five socio-economic regions of Kosovo, together with the sectors and specifics of each region. Studying socio-economic regional profiles is also in function of drafting public policies that are mainly related to the balanced economic development of Kosovo regions, while at the same time, updating data that are in the service of development in this area of socio-economic indicators of the regions will also be in the function of local government, in function of local and regional development. Therefore, this document does not preach in any way and does not allude the administrative division at the regional level. The document is based on an analysis of the regional social and economic development statistics of Kosovo's socio-economic regions. The origin of Regional Development in Kosovo is known earlier, but in terms of more structured use of EU funds, it is known since 2008 where regional development is one of the five components. IPA is a financial instrument used by the EU that aims to help countries in the process of EU membership. The main IPA objectives include strengthening democratic institutions, reforming the administration and economy, promoting and protecting human rights and freedoms, improving the adherence to minority rights and developing the civil society. IPA assistance is provided in five components, which include: support during transition and institution building, cross-border cooperation, regional development, human resource development, and rural development. The assistance provided through IPA is based on a multi-year strategic planning, which includes a Multi-Annual Indicative Financial Framework. In addition to projects such as IPA, other international mechanisms’ practices that are in the function of institutional engagement for advancement and regional development are also those of EU Cohesion Policy: Such an approach usually represents a mechanism that is used by the EU to improve the economy of regions that have stagnated in terms of development and socio-economic growth. The Cohesion Policy, through its main instruments, has contributed to the creation of jobs and to ensuring equal treatment for all European citizens. This policy is aimed at strengthening the European economy, social and territorial cohesion by reducing disparities between regions, referring to rural areas, regions affected by industrial transition, and regions suffering from permanent significant natural and demographic problems.

The European Commission in its Cohesion Policy 2021-2027 has developed several criteria to better reflect the socio-economic situation, focusing on the resources of less developed countries and providing financial support to the countries facing industrial transition. Specifically, the future of the European Cohesion Policy will aim to increase youth employment by addressing the low education levels, investing in climate change and reception and integration of immigrants.

This document addresses, inter alia, the regional specifics that relate to available areas, data and specifics for the population, the demographic aspect across the regions. Additionally, it addresses resources and potentials where economic development can be oriented, consequently the balanced economic development of the socio- economic regions of Kosovo addresses the level of population education, potentials in the field of agriculture sector, tourism sector, then businesses profiles operating within these regions, the conditions of doing business, as well as the level of infrastructure that is in the function of development.

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Bearing in mind the Regional Development and EU Cohesion Policies, establishing sound policies and basics for regional development in Kosovo is indispensable and the first edition of the Socio-Economic Regional Profiles Document is a supporting document for the establishment of an information and analytical base of socio-economic regional profiles in Kosovo.

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REGIONAL PROFILES SOCIO-ECONOMIC REGION CENTRE

 PODUJEVA

 PRISHTINA

 GRACANICE  OBILIQ

 FUSHE KOSOVA  DRENAS

 SHTIME

 LIPJAN

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The Socio-Economic Region Centre is SOCIO-ECONOMIC REGION comprised of eight municipalities, Prishtina, Podujeva, Lipjan, Obiliq, Drenas, Shtime, CENTRE Fushe Kosova and Gracanica. Region Centre

is the region with the greatest potential and impact on the national economy because the 2 .215.52 km² capital city of Kosovo is located in it and also the investment base of local and foreign investors. The Socio-Economic Region 299 settlements Centre is bordered by the Region South in south-east, the Region North in north-east, 511.562 inhabitants the Region East in south-east and in north-east.

SURFACE AND POPULATION The Socio-Economic Region Centre has an area of 2,215.52 km2, a municipality of Lipjanit - 170 inhabitants per 1 km2 and in the population of 511.562 inhabitants and constitutes over 28.44% of the municipality of Podujeva there are 131 inhabitants per 1 km2. There entire population of Kosovo 1 . This indicates a much larger are 299 settlements in the Socio-Economic Region Centre and this concentration of population in the Region Centre than in other areas represents about 19.95% of all settlements in Kosovo. when it is known that the Region Centre is about 20.31% of the entire 2 2 territory of Kosovo (10,905.25 km ) . On average, in the Socio-Economic Reg